Synchronizer coupling



March 5, 1946. ORR Re. 22,731

SYNCHRONIZER COUPLING I .Or'iginal Filed March 24, 1945 s Shets-Sheet 1 .Pafnzer 07V March 5, 1946. P

SYNCHRONIZER COUPLING Original Filed March 24, 1945 3 SheetsRSheet 2 March 5, 1946. ORR Re. 22,731

SYNGHRONIZER COUPLING v Original Filed March 24, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 assass ns p Re.

UNIT STATES PATENT OFFICE Illinois I ginal No. 2,360,211, tilted October 11, 1944, Se

rill No. 480,274, March 24, 1943. Application for reissue November 10, 1945, Serial No. 627,963

6 Claims.

This invention relates to' power transmitting.

' transmitting device for controlling the variation in torque produced by the mechanism.

There has been devised a positive coupling device which is supplied with spiral splines so as tation between the elements to be coupled to effect an axial shift of the movable element to take advantage of the relative direction of rothereof. To limit the axialmovement of the,

shiftable element, straight or axial splines are likewise provided on another portion of the sh'iftable element so that when the shift is completed, the shiftable element is connected to the spirally splined element through a secondary.

straight splined connection. The last-named connection provides a lock whichprevents further axial movement of the shiftable element. To effect. a shift in the opposite direction the straight splined connection must first be broken and then the direction of torque is reversed.

- pling device taken along line 4-4 of Figs.- 1 and 5:

substitute an inexpensive ball or bean-type loci; for the straight-splined lock which has been proposed i'or this type of coupling.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following specification when taken. together with the drawings which form a part thereof and in which:

Fig. 1 is a partial elevation in section of a transmission embodying a shifting device constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section taken along line 2-2 ofFig.1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section taken along line 3-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section through the cou- Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation in sec- ;tion of the coupling device taken along line 5-5 of FlS- Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view. of the coupling device device taken along line 6-8 of Fig. '5;

thereby causing the spirally spli'ned element to move in the opposite direction. In one form, pawls are provided to synchronize the shift, the

pawls being so related-with respect to the teeth I to be mated that when a pawl is in a driving position, the teeth of the clutch will beperfectly aligned and will engage due to the driving action of the pawl on the spirally splined shiftable element.

Thus it will be-observed that in the coupling just described two sets of splines are necessary,

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing-the the first beingspiralled to provide the necessary axial movement and the second being straight to provide the necessary lock to prevent further movement of the spirally splined element. It

will be appreciated that both sets of splinesare rather expensive and that it would be desirable 'to reduce the cost of such a coupling to a mini -mum. The principal object of this invention,-

therefore, is to provide a positive coupling of the type described which will eliminate some of the splines and hence result in a less expensive mechanism. i

Anotherobject of this invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive lock for a coupling. of

the type described. L i Afurther object of this invention'is to provide a transmission. of the stepped-type wherein changes in speed ratio are effected by means of a coupling device having a spirally splined, axially shiftable element and a simple, inexpensive, looking device for the axially shiftable element.

A still further object of this invention is to Fig. '7 is a fragmentary elevation taken along line 1-1 of Fig. 1 showing the detailed construction ofthe planet carrier;

planet carrier prior toassembly; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary elevation of the controls for the shifting mechanism taken along line 9-9 of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary section of mechanism.

Referring to Fig. 1 for a detailed description of the invention, the transmission is enclosed in a housing li and serves to connect a drive shaft the shifting shown .at II, to a driven shaft. II. Drive shaft ll may be the crank shaft of an airplane engine and driven shaft I! may be the propeller shaft although it will be understood that the invention is not limited to such use. The on itself is designated by reference character i8 and is comprised of a sun gear I! bolted to drive shaft l6,-pairs of planet pinions 20 and 2| made in the form of spools so as to be rotatable together and mounted on planet shafts 28 in a carrier 22 which is rotatable about the axis of shaft l1. Sun gear ll engages planet pinion 20 and planet pinion 2| engages a larger sun gear 23 which is splined to shaft I'I and thus caused tobe rotatable therewith. Carrier 22'includes a front ring 24 and a rear ring 25 in which planetashafts 26 are retained. I

Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, planet carrier 22 'is provided with axially extending bars 21 which pass between the planet gears and which are provided with grooves 28 on the interior "there'oi. Cooperating with grooves 23 are lugs 29 which areformed in a radial flange 33 oi a bushing 3|. Said bushing 3| is mounted on the. inside 01' sun gear l9 and- 35 which may (Fig.

a spring 43.

provides a support for the carrier.

Asshown in Fig. 8, lugs 29 are-assembled with respect to bars 21 by first assembling the planets and.cage,around the lugs 29 so that said lugs extend into the space between the planet gears 20 and 2| and then the radial flange is rotated relative to bars 21 until the two assume a position as shown in Fig. 7. A notch 32 is provided save: I

spline. is of normal size and the two intervening splines are or reduced height so as to permit pawls 43 to bear against the normal splines to obtain a drive therefrom.

In a similar manner, when sleeve 43 is engaged with internalsplines 39 on fixed ring 33, internal in one of the lugs 29, said notch being adapted to cooperate with, the'reduced end 33 of a set screw 34 which is advanced into the notch so as to prevent the carrier from rotating oi! its support. Grooves 23 flt snugly over lugs 29 so as-to give a firm support to the entire carrier. I

It will be obvious that in order to obtain a reduced drive through the transmission just described carrier 22 must be held so that the drive is then from drive shaft It to sun gear l9, then to pinions and 2|, and then to sun gear,23. Since sun gear" 23 is splined to driven shaft H, the latter will be rotated at the same speed as sun gear 23. Due tothe diflerence in size 'between sun'gears l3 and 23, the latter will be rotated at a reduced speed. 1

To obtain a direct drive between drive shaft l8 and driven shaft l1, one or the sun gears must be connected to the planet cage so as to lock the entire planetary gear set together for rotation as a single unit. The means by which the two ratios areobtained will now be described.

Carrier 22 is provided with a cylindrical flange be an extension of front ring 24.

This flange is axially fixed, but is rotatable with planet carrier 22. On the inside of flange are internal splines 39, the direction of the spiral being shown in Fig. 6. It is assumed that the direction ofmtation of drive shaft i6 is clockwise when the transmission is viewed from the right-hand side oi Fig. 1. v 1

Sun gear 23 is provided with external teeth 31 which are of the straight axial type. v

Secured to housing I! is an internally toothed ring 39, the teeth being shown at 39 It will be noted thatexternal teeth 31 on sun gear 23 are located within the cylindrical flange 35'on carrier 22 and that internal teeth 39 on ring 39 are substantially aligned efl'ect a connection tionary ring 33 an provided. This sleeve is formed with external between flange 35 and sta spiral splines '4l which cooperate with internal spiral splines 36 on flange 33, and with straight external splines 42 which are separated from the spiral splines 4| by a circumferential groove 43 and which are adapted to engage internal teeth 39 on flxed member 33. 4

Similarly, flange 33 may be connected to sun gear 23 through the intermediary of internal splines 36, external splines '4i and internal straight splines 44 located on the inside and to the right of sleeve 49 (Fig. 1). It will be noted that stralghtsplines 4'2 and 44 are considerably longer than internal teeth 39 and external teeth 31 with which the straight splines are adapted to mesh. As shown in Fig.- 1, straight splines 44 are engaged with external teeth" so as to form a drive between sun gear 23 and carrier 22. v Ex.- ternal splines'42 are made long enough to engage one or more pawls 43 mounted on fixed ring 33 2) and held-against splines 42 by means of with flange 33. In order to axially slidable sleeve 40 is splines 44 on sleeve 43 will b completely disengaged from external splines on sun gear 23, but they are made .su'fllciently iong'so as to remain in engagement with a pawl 41 pivotally mounted on sun temal splines 44 by means of a spring 43. Internal splines 44 are likewise formed of uneven height so that every third spline is of normal height and the intervening two splines are of re-.

duced height, thus permitting pawl 41 to engage the splines of normal height.

Assuming that sleeve 43 is free to niove axially in either direction, it is apparent that a shiit to reduced drive may be effected by accelerating shaft l6 while permitting shaft II to rotate at substantially the same speed. Eventually, sleeve 40 and carrier '22 will stop and begin to rotate in the opposite direction and at such time pawl 43 will cease to ratchet over splines 42 and will engage a spline of normal height thereby preventing sleeve flange 33. This establishes a speed diii'erential between sleeve 40 and flange 35 which, because of the spiral spline connection therebetween, results in an axial movement of sleeve 40 toward internal splines 39. The length and position of pawl 45 are so chosen that splines 42 under such conditions are perfectly aligned with internal splines 39 and complete engagement may be effected without difliculty.

Assuming external splines with internal splines 39 and r to move axially, pawl 41 on sun gear 23 is inengagement with internal splines 44 at the opposite end of sleeve 40 and is ready totake eflect iust as soon as the direction of rotation is reversed. Thus, when torque is released to decelerate shaft IS, the relative direction of rotation between 42 to beengaged sleeve and flange 33 is reversed and pawl 41 then takeshold and causes sleeve 40 to move to the right as shown in Fig. l. Pawl 41 is likewise so posltioned that when it is in engagement with the normal sized internal splines 44, the splines will likewise be .in Perfect alignment with external teeth 31 and the movement of .sleeve 40 to the right as shown in Fig. 1 will con:

tinue until complete engagement between external teeth 31 and internal splines 44 is efl'ected.

It is obvious that unless some locking means is provided for sleeve 43. the sleeve will continue tryoscillate between engagement with internal splines 39 and external teeth 37 with each reverse] of torque between the driving and driven shafts. To maintain sleeve 43 in any given position, therefore, requires that some locking means 4 be provided. Such locking means will now be It will be observed that every third 5 described. g

It will be observed that axial flange 33 is provided with an opening? in which i located a locking member 50. In the form selected for illustrat a ball, but itis understood that any of the usual interlocking devices with 'cammed ends may be used. Said member has a diameter which is greater than the thickness oi flange '33 and is one of two depressions 'Ii' and 32 located in sliding sleeve 40. To readapted to ride in either time any tendency toward self-locking and also to provide a i'asterand more dependable shift,

gear 23 and held against the-in 40 from. continuing to rotate with sleeve 40 to be free 1 the locking member is comprised of or depression 52, the ball 50 locks sleeve 40 in place. Thus, when it is desired to shift from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position wherein carrier 22 is held, collar 53 is slid to theleft as shown in Fig. 1 until depression 54 is aligned with depression Ill and then, assumin that the saver and is held against axial movement by means of a threaded pin Bl. Shaft I! may be oscillated from the exterior by means of a lever M; The inner end of shaft 52 is ground to provide one or more fiat spots," which serve to drlve'a lever 68. Said lever it is forked at its free end to receive a tongue 81 secured to a hollow cylinder- 68. Salli to gue 61 is held in" the forked end of torque reaction is in the proper direction, sleeve- II will move to the left to engage external splines 43 with internal teeth 39. -To lock sleeve 40 in I this position it is necessary to continue moving shift collar 53 to the left immediately after ball 33 drops into depression 32 Similarly, when it is desired to lock sleeve III in the position shown lnFig. 1 from the position just described, it is necessary first to move shift collar 53 so that de pression BI is in line with depression 52 and then, assuming that the torque reaction i in the proper direction. -sleeve III will move to the right into the position shown in Fig. l and immediately upon ball droppin into depression 5|, collar 33 must be moved to the osition shown in Fig. l. To make sure that shift collar 53 pauses when depression 54 is aligned with either depression Si or depression}! to give ball 30 an opportunity to be cammed out of the way of sleeve ill, the device shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 is used.

Referrlng now to Figs. 4, '5, and 6. flan e- '35 has formed therein-one or more axial slots 55. Slot I3 is located in the region over which shift collar 58 operates. Said collar 53 is provided with a radial pin 5' which is flattened along its sides as at 51 so as to pass through slot 35 without turning; Similarly, sleeve I3 is provided with a somewhat rectangular slot 5! which is considerably wider than pin it and into which said pin 53 extends. Since sleeve and flange 35 are connected together by means of spiral splines. it will be'apparent that sleeve ill will at times move circumferentially with respect toflange 35 and I it is to accommodate the relative circumferential movement between these two parts that slot 58 is made wider.

The axial length and location of slot 58 is so chosen that, assuming sleeve 40 .to be in the po- 'sition shown in Fig. 1, shift cOllal' s: will move axially until pinlt strikes the left hand (Fig. 5')

side of slot 58, and it is at exactly this point that V depression! incollar 53 will be aligned with ball 30 and depression 5! in sleeve"; Collar 53. therefore, must pause in its axial-movement until the torque reaction moves shift sleeve 40 into engagement with internal teeth 39, that is, until the shift sleeve passes from one extreme position to its other extreme position. At that time, collar 53 may then continue its movement a short distance so as to lock ball 53 and sleeve 40 in place. The same action takes place wl'ien the movement is from engagement with internal teeth 38 to engagement. with external teeth 31 and sun gear 23.

The means by which shift collar 33 is moved in either direction is shown in Figs. 9 and 10. Shift collar 53 is provided with a circumferential groove 83 in which is located a shift yoke 60. Said shift yoke is pivotali'y mounted at H in an arm 3| which in turn is mounted to rotate freely about a control shaft 62. Said control'shaft is rotatabiymountedinabossilinhouslng I! lever 68 by means of a pin 68 about which it freely pivots. Shift fork BI! is provided with an extension Iii located concentrically with respect to pivot II of lever 30 and a hollow cylinder if is plvotally mounted about extension II. Hollow cylinder II- telescopes into cylinder 88 and a spring I: is compressed in cylinder 12 so as to tend tocause cylinder" and cylinder to spread apart.

When it is desired to shift collar 53, external lever is is thrown to the side which will eifect the desired shift, the lever being'limited in its movementby a suitable stop (not shown). Since theiength of lever 8| plus the length of, cylinder 1! when extended, is greater than the'length of lever 3|, spring iswill be compressed and" will exert a turning effort on lever II in the opposite direction to that imparted to'lever ll.

' sltion. when the second depression in sleeve III is aligned with ball It so as to unlock collar BI, the spring II will then continue the movement of shift collar II, thereby locking sleeve 40 in place.

It is understood that several locking bolts may beused as desired, and likewise several pins 5.

and associated slots may be used to secure great locking means for shift sleeve lll is shown as applied .to a particular form of shift sleeve and a a particular type of gearing, it is not necessarily limited to such a disclosure and that the sc'ope of the invention, therefore, should be determined only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A coupling for machine elementsadapted to changetheir relative direction of rotation. comprising spaced elements to be coupled, amem- I her for establishing a connection between the elements, means responsive to a change in the relative direction of rotation of the machine elements for moving the member to or from a coupling establishing position, means for rendering the member independent of changes in relative direction of rotation; said last-mentioned means comprising a bolt movable into and outof the path of movement of the connecting member to stop orto permit movement of the connecting member. and means for controlling the position of the bolt, said position-controlling means comprising a shiftable element having a depression therein to receive the. bolt when the bolt is moved out of the path of movement of the connecting member, resilient means for moving the .shiftable member from a position wherein the depression.

is not aligned with the bolt to a position wherein the depression is aligned with thebolt and thence to a third position wherein'the depression in" is not aligned with the bolt, means for biasing the spring to effect such movement of the shiftable element and means for arresting the movement of the shittable element-in the position wherdn er effectiveness of both devices and a better bslance. It is understood further that although the movement oi the connecting 4 the depression is aligned with the bolt until a complete movement of the connecting membs has been efl'ected.

2. Planetary gearing comprising a drive shaft, a driven shaft, a sun gear secured to the drive 'shaft, a sun gear splined to the driven shaft.

' whereby to support the carrier from the flange.

3. Planetary gearing as described in claim 2, the sleeve-supporting shaft. being hollow and said sleeve being mounted within the hollow portion oi saidshai't.

4. A coupling for machine elements adapted to change their relative direction of rotation comprising spaced elements to be coupled, a mem-- ber for establishing a connection between the elements, means responsive to a change in the .relative direction of rotational the machine elements for moving the member to or from a coupling establishing position, and means for rendering the member independent of change in relative direction of rotation, said means comprising a bolt member movable into andout oi the path of movement of the connecting member to arrest orrelease said connecting member, means for controlling the position of the bolt, said means being shiftable from a position preventing the bolt from moving out of the path of movement of the connecting member, through a position permitting such movement, and thence to a second position again preventing such movement, and means for causing the position-controlling means to pause at the position permitting means. 5. A coupling for machine elements adaptedto change their relative direction of rotation comprising spaced elements to be coupled, a member for establishing a connection between the ele-- ments, means responsive to a change in the relative direction of rotation of the machine elements for movingthe member to or from a 0011- pling establishing position, and means for ren-' dering the member independent 01 change in relative direction of rotation, said means comprising a bolt member movable into and out of the path of movement of the connecting member to arrest or release said connecting member,

means for controlling the position of the bolt, said means being shiftable from a position preventing the bolt from moving out of the path oi movement of the connecting member, through a position permitting such movement, and thence to. a second position again preventing such movement, said last-mentioned means comprising a circumferentially oscillatablering.

6. A coupling for machine elements adapted to; change their relative direction of rotation N prising spaced concentric elements, one'oiffwhich has straight teeth thereon and the other oi'jwhich hbs spiral splines, a slidable sleeve forjestablish ing a, connection between the elements, 'said'sleeve having straight teeth at one end thereof for en'-' gaging the straight teeth of. one of the elements and havingspi'ra'l splines at the other end thereof Y adapted to engage the spiral splines of the said.

other element, means for producing relative rota.- tion between the connecting member and the element having the spiral splines such that axial movement of the connecting member results, an opening in one of; the elements to bejcoupled, a

' bolt in said opening having cammed ends, spaced depressions in the connecting member adapted to receive one of the cammed ends of the belt, a ring, for retaining the bolt in place, said ring being shiftable and having a depression which when aligned with the it cooperates with the other cammed end thereo and permits said bolt to be c'ammed out or either depression in the connecting member, means forshifting said ring to a position wherein the bolt 'is locked in one or the other of the depressions in the connect- 'ing member whereby to prevent axial movement of said member, spring means" for moving the ring from a position wherein the depression therein is on one sideoi the bolt, to a second position wherein the depression is aligned with the bolt, and thence to a third position on the other side of the bolt, and means forcausing the ring to pause in the position wherein the depression therein is aligned with the bolt.

PALMER. ORR. 

